Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-02-12
REPORTING A YACHT RACE.

Laying Insulated Wire for the Occasion.
A Mirth Provoking Spectacle.
In a recent case of litigation a newspaper
man who describes himself as "Charles II.
Davis, a resident of Plainield, in the state Of
+ New Jersey. a newspaper writer, artist and
photographer" pleasantly relates in his af1-
davit his modus operandi of reporting yacht
races. Referring to the inside race the aft
davit reads: 1.-THE deponent further says
that IN the seventh day Of September, 1886,
be was especially engaged by Walter P.
Phillips, secretary and general manage of
the United Press, a news association, organ
lied and existing under the laws of the state
of New York, having its principal Office at
No. 1877 Broadway, in the city of New York,
to 60 to Fort Wadsworth, in New York har-
Dor, for the purpose Of reporting for the said
association the international race sailed on
said day between the British yacht Galatea
and the American yacht Mayfower; that
pursuant to an arrangement which he is in
formed and believes had been duly made be-
tween said Phillips and the Baltimore and
Ohio Telegraph company, for the use
Of n of the wires of said COM
pany, running in the vicinity Of Fort
Wadsworth, he caused it to be connected
at the base of the bluff overlooking the forti-
fcation, with about 1900 feet of insulated
wire which he caused to be stretched along
the ground and up the bluff; the said in
sulated wire becoming in fact a part Of the
Baltimore and Ohio lines; and further, that
he conducted the end of said insulated wire
to the top Of a cannon planted in a command
ing position upon the summit of the bluff
where he attached instruments and had
direct and instantaneous telegraphic COM
munication with the said principal Office Of
the United Press, at 1877 Broadway, New
York; that by means Of a powerful tele-
scope he made observations Of the progress
of said race, every part of the course being
distinctly visible to him; and that being a
telegraph operator he transmitted a report of
his observations by telegraph with his own
hand, without writing them out on paper, to
the said principal Office Of the United Press.
All of which is instructive, as showing the
perfection to which the art of news gathering
is being carried in this serious age of compe- /
tition. Nor is the comedy element lacking
in this curious case, for the we'll kept records
of the United Press show that in ten seconds !
after the yachts had crossed the line its entire (
system of day wires, which had been kept
open later than usual to report the result Of
the race, had been closed, and every paper
reached by its lines knew that the Americas
cup was safe. Remembering this and divin-
ing how it must have been accomplished the
reader can scarcely keep out Of his mind the
mirth provoking spectacle Of the versatile
reporter loftily mounted with watch in hand, |
his eye glued to his telescope, and with the
fretful little instrument between his knees. I
where he could seize it readily and tell the
world that the Mayfower had come home a
gallant winner. It is to be regretted that
MIR. Davis, whose chief business it is to make +
pictures for the newspapers, has not accom-
panied his affidavit with a free hand sketch |
OF his W appearance on an occasion when |
the gunner discarded powder and made the /
lightning his ready servant-Electric Age. |